Pollution or Air Pollution is something that every Delhiite wants to get rid off. Every year during Diwali, Delhi suffers from rising AQI which takes a toll on people’s lives here. The humungous use of fire-crackers leads to such traumatic situations and doctors suggest to leave Delhi for a good 15 days. The AQI during Diwali went up to 1000 which is marked as “severe”. Some would suggest the use of air-purifiers which may cost somewhere in between INR 12,000 to INR 1, 00,000. But doctors opine that instead of opting for these measures, going natural would heal better. Because for the most part of the year the AQI remains “poor”, “very poor”, and “average”, barring the monsoons. So, if you want to save yourself, your family, and friends, then bring these air-purifying plants as soon as possible which would give you a healthier indoor environment.

Areca Palm:

Intro:

Scientific Name: Dypsis lutescens

Popular Names: Golden Cane Palm, Areca Palm, Yellow Palm, or Butterfly Palm (As the leaves of this plant tend to curve upwards in multiple stems, it gives the look of a butterfly)

Native: It is a species of flowering plant belonging to the Arecaceae family. Areca Palm is native to Madagascar and South India.

The most important reason why you should bring Areca Palm Plant to your home is that – As per the reports shared by NASA Clean Air Study and Dr. B. C. Wolverton, an Areca Palm plant filters many harmful toxins from the air. Wolverton has further specified that at 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) in height, the plant will transpire 1 liter of water per 24 hours, thereby making it just the perfect humidifier for your home. This plant grows at a speed of 6-10 inches per year.

Buy the grown-up Areca Palm plants whose height is up to the shoulders of an average human being. If you keep 4 Areca Palm plants of this height in your living room or home, your home atmosphere would remain safe.

Keep it under direct sunlight once in 3-4 months. Because Areca palms require bright but indirect sunlight. Harsh and scorching sunlight burns the plant and causes it to turn yellow.

Water Requirement for Areca Palm:

Remember that Areca Palm requires a moist soil but not a soggy one. So, allow the top few inches to dry out before watering again. In case the water at your home has chemicals in it, then use filtered/RO/distilled water to feed this plant. If you use polluted water, then it would bring unimpressive marks on the leaves.

Which Is The Best Soil Type For A Conducive Growth of Areca Palm?

You must use a rich acidic soil that has a great drainage quality. In case the soil is too heavy and clay-like, then add builder’s sand to it.

Planter or Pot Size?

You must plant an Areca Palm in a container/planter/pot that is double the size of the root ball. Because they grow really fast.

Common or Popular Names: Snake Plant (because of the shape and sharp margins of its leaves), Mother-In-Law’s Tongue, and Viper’s Bowstring Hemp (because it is one of the sources for plant fibers used to make bowstrings)

Native: This plant is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to tropical West Africa from Nigeria east to the Congo.

Importance of Snake Plant:

This plant produces bowstring hemp which is a strong plant fiber once used to make bowstrings. It is said that this plant works even at night and converts carbon dioxide into oxygen. As per the NASA Clean Air Study found Snake Plant removes 4 of the 5 main toxins. If 6 Snake Plants of 3 feet in height are kept at home, the indoor atmosphere would become healthier.

You can place it anywhere inside or outside your home. Just remember that the better the light condition, the faster Snake Plant would grow. Actually, in warm temperature zones, this plant is grown as an outdoor plant while in cooler temperature zones, this is grown as an indoor plant.

Water Requirement for Snake Plant:

You have to allow the soil to dry first before watering the plant. Remember this fact because often overwatering is the reason behind the decay of Snake Plants. In winter season and in a low light situation, this plant may require water once a month.

Which Is The Best Soil Type for Conducive Growth of Snake Plant?

You must place Snake Plant in a good, rich, nutritious, and organic soil with excellent drainage quality. In case, your soil lacks proper drainage, then you can add some sand in it.

Planter/Pot Size:

This plant would grow well in small pots as they like to be root-bound.

P.S.: Snake Plant is a slightly poisonous plant with a level-1 toxicity.

Native: It is a species of flowering plant in the family of Araceae, native in Mo’orea. It is a famous popular houseplant in temperate regions.

Importance of Money Plant:

Money plant is one of the best indoor plants to purify the air at your home or office. It enhances the oxygen flow wherever it is kept. This plant multiplies the positive energies in a home and provides financial gains and further improves sleep. It is also said that money plant mitigates arguments in a family.

Which Toxins Are Removed By Money Plant?

Money plant removes synthetic chemicals from furniture and cleaning solutions. In particular, it removes, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, toluene, xylene, and benzene. This plant is also kept inside aquariums and there it absorbs many nitrates & uses it for its own growth apart from adding beauty to the “fish-home”.

Where To Keep Money Plant?

A money plant should be kept near the computer, laptop, TV set, or WiFi router. And it is also said that keeping money plants at sharp angles at home reduces stress, hypertension, and anxiety.

Light Requirement for Money Plant:

This low-maintenance plant grows very well in direct sunlight as well as in indirect sunlight when placed indoors. It can sustain scorching sunlight during summer seasons, but try to avoid that as too harsh rays may burn the leaves.

Water Requirement for Money Plant:

Remember that over-watering should be avoided. You can water the plant once every 7 to 10 days during the summer season. Water it once in every 2-3 weeks during the winter season

Which Is The Best Soil Type for Conducive Growth of Money Plant?

Money plants prefer that soil type which allows better ventilation and drainage. So, you can mix river sand with regular potting soil.

If Money Plant is Grown In Soil: Use medium sized ceramic, plastic, or clay pot.

P.S.: Money Plant is listed as toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA due to the presence of insoluble raphides. It can also be mildly toxic to humans as well and possible side-effects can be eczema or skin irritation.

If each one of you rise up and become sensitive towards this issue of “pollution”, there would be a sea of change. All you have to do is invest one-time into plants and reap its benefits forever. You may find this beneficial plant online on ugaao.com.